My better half, Joe, gets email notices about new, cheap-o gear and strange little camping oddities that come up on Ebay for like 1$ to 3$ each...the newest editions, I wanted to wait until I had time to test them for functionality before posting about it. New spin on the ferro rod and on sun reflection fires. A short video of both in action!

The permanent match (it's a hybrid between a zippo and a flint/ferro rod) the lighter fluid goes into the hole, and the steel rod has a wick that soaks up some lighter fluid. You strike the steel/wick combo to the ferro rod and viola- instant FIRE -good thing is, I filled this with fluid about 40 days ago and it did not evaporate at all like a zippo does (due to the tight fitting seal on the screw cap) and still PLENTY of fuel left, it can withstand strong winds and is easy to light. Bad thing = the keychain is the weak link here. I wouldn't trust that not to break.. carry in a pocket. <img src='http://hoodswoods.net/IVB/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':thumbsup:' />/>/>/>/>/> I like this little item and grabbed more than 1 to send out.

This satellite dish looking thingy- it's a solar cigarette lighter- weighs like nothing. I am sure bark, dry cattail fluff or tinder of any sort could be substituted for a cigarette. Although it's pretty much the same as the sun and a magnifying glass/bottle bottom/condom with water BUT faster I think!

That cigarette lighter is a neat trick. Its pre-focused and fool proof which sets it apart from just using a flashlight reflector.

The metal match looks pretty cool also. A flame is more useful than a burning coal except maybe in the wind. Its a good kit item.

Message of Insight and Unity

We go into the wilderness to fulfill our hearts and empty our minds of life's garbage.
The gear we leave behind and the challenges we encounter,
Are methods we use to cleanse our spirits.
Of Survivalists and Bushcrafters, Primitive Technologists too, we are one.........

It is the wilderness within, we strive for first and always.
Not everyone can have a cabin in the mountains.
The thread that connects us, is fine like silk and strong as steel.
Together, the song of the wilderness is the song we sing!

"And can I say something else?"
Bushcrafting is "doing what you want to do."
Survival is "doing what you have to do"
Primitive Technology is about all of the above........

That cigarette lighter is a neat trick. Its pre-focused and fool proof which sets it apart from just using a flashlight reflector.

The metal match looks pretty cool also. A flame is more useful than a burning coal except maybe in the wind. Its a good kit item.

[/quote]

Yup, I thought they were both pretty neat. The metal/permanent match is very handy, I assume if you put it in your kit, full of fuel, and left it there, it'd still work great 1 year later! I am going to send one to my dear friend in Tennessee <img src='http://hoodswoods.net/IVB/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/whistling.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':whistling:' /> but I have to send it empty, cuz Can-yader post won't let me send anything flammable! Ok <img src='http://hoodswoods.net/IVB/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':thumbsup:' />

AOC

"When government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny."--Thomas Jefferson

"Buy land- they are not making it anymore"- Mark Twain

"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile hoping it will eat him last." -Winston Churchill

"Wilderness is in our hearts first and always. All of us can't have a cabin in the mountains. It's the wilderness within we must strive for first."- R. Sullivan

Old flashlight reflectors make good cigarette lighters too. Just stick the end of the cigarette through the hole where the bulb used to be, and focus the sunlight down to a bright point. Warning, use some sort of eye protection, welding goggles work best. Larger flashlights work faster, but even smaller ones, D battery size work in good sunlight.

Old flashlight reflectors make good cigarette lighters too. Just stick the end of the cigarette through the hole where the bulb used to be, and focus the sunlight down to a bright point. Warning, use some sort of eye protection, welding goggles work best. Larger flashlights work faster, but even smaller ones, D battery size work in good sunlight.

[/quote]

Ya, this is true, the solar cigarette lighter is actually a spring and a cheap-o piece of plastic covered with like a foil....about the same as a flashlight reflector!! Good idea.

AOC

"When government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny."--Thomas Jefferson

"Buy land- they are not making it anymore"- Mark Twain

"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile hoping it will eat him last." -Winston Churchill

"Wilderness is in our hearts first and always. All of us can't have a cabin in the mountains. It's the wilderness within we must strive for first."- R. Sullivan

That cigarette lighter is a neat trick. Its pre-focused and fool proof which sets it apart from just using a flashlight reflector.

The metal match looks pretty cool also. A flame is more useful than a burning coal except maybe in the wind. Its a good kit item.

[/quote]

Yup, I thought they were both pretty neat. The metal/permanent match is very handy, I assume if you put it in your kit, full of fuel, and left it there, it'd still work great 1 year later! I am going to send one to my dear friend in Tennessee but I have to send it empty, cuz Can-yader post won't let me send anything flammable! Ok

Have ya tried putting a piece of cotton in place of the cig? How long would it take to flame up?

One on trip, my primary firestarter was a pink lady candle. That thing was da bomb for starting fires! Using a flame instead of a coal has many advantages, at least when the wind is not blowing hard. Wooden Matches just go out too quick!

How long does the metal match burn? A lighter goes out too quick, unless ya use a trick to keep it burning and that has its quirks.

I always need a quick flame in camp for many things. Burning the ends of paracord is just one.

If da archer is listening, please post a link to your firematch thingy innovation. It reminded me of a lighting tool for muskets back in the day. I thought is was a clever innovation. <img src='http://hoodswoods.net/IVB/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':yes:' />/>

Message of Insight and Unity

We go into the wilderness to fulfill our hearts and empty our minds of life's garbage.
The gear we leave behind and the challenges we encounter,
Are methods we use to cleanse our spirits.
Of Survivalists and Bushcrafters, Primitive Technologists too, we are one.........

It is the wilderness within, we strive for first and always.
Not everyone can have a cabin in the mountains.
The thread that connects us, is fine like silk and strong as steel.
Together, the song of the wilderness is the song we sing!

"And can I say something else?"
Bushcrafting is "doing what you want to do."
Survival is "doing what you have to do"
Primitive Technology is about all of the above........

That cigarette lighter is a neat trick. Its pre-focused and fool proof which sets it apart from just using a flashlight reflector.

The metal match looks pretty cool also. A flame is more useful than a burning coal except maybe in the wind. Its a good kit item.

[/quote]

Yup, I thought they were both pretty neat. The metal/permanent match is very handy, I assume if you put it in your kit, full of fuel, and left it there, it'd still work great 1 year later! I am going to send one to my dear friend in Tennessee but I have to send it empty, cuz Can-yader post won't let me send anything flammable! Ok

Have ya tried putting a piece of cotton in place of the cig? How long would it take to flame up?

One on trip, my primary firestarter was a pink lady candle. That thing was da bomb for starting fires! Using a flame instead of a coal has many advantages, at least when the wind is not blowing hard. Wooden Matches just go out too quick!

How long does the metal match burn? A lighter goes out too quick, unless ya use a trick to keep it burning and that has its quirks.

I always need a quick flame in camp for many things. Burning the ends of paracord is just one.

If da archer is listening, please post a link to your firematch thingy innovation. It reminded me of a lighting tool for muskets back in the day. I thought is was a clever innovation. <img src='http://hoodswoods.net/IVB/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/yes.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':yes:' />/>/>

[/quote]

inflammable beverages are ok <img src='http://hoodswoods.net/IVB/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt=':thumbsup:' /> ...customs might confiscate it and/or drink it though. Yes we tried a cotton puff ball in the dish thing, it lights even quicker than the cig...maybe 30 to 45 seconds.

Ya pink lady candles are the bomb! They burn for hours, even the little birthday candle in my kit burns for 14 minutes! much smarter than wasting matches or lighter fuel!

I am not sure how long the metal match will burn for, I've kept it burning for a few minutes BUT it's burn time must be limited by the wick...I wonder if I could replace the wick with a braided piece of cotton or char cloth in the field...the fluid seems to last and burn for a VERY long time!

AOC

"When government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny."--Thomas Jefferson

"Buy land- they are not making it anymore"- Mark Twain

"An appeaser is one who feeds a crocodile hoping it will eat him last." -Winston Churchill

"Wilderness is in our hearts first and always. All of us can't have a cabin in the mountains. It's the wilderness within we must strive for first."- R. Sullivan